#DontGoQuietly
Old junior rivals will reunite once again and this time in the Under 16 McDonald's Cup qualifying final as the Highfields Lions face Coolaroo in Warwick.
It will be the first time both sides have faced each other on the Jackie Howe Drive oval, a ground two of the competitions leading goal-kickers know all too well. Highfields Lion Thomas Clark and Coolaroo's James Sprason sit 1 and 2 respectively on the McDonald's Cup goal-kicking leader board and will be licking their lips ahead of their Reddies oval finals clash.
Both players average over 5-goals a game at the Warwick based venue, with both key forwards enjoying the open spaces.
Sprason and Clark will be essential, if their side is to win through to the 2014 Grand-Final. Clark is your traditional centre-half forward, fantastic running capacity for a player 185+ and takes a superb overhead mark and can kick long goals.
Sprason is more of a medium forward, who players more as a link up player but loves crumbing his tall forwards. Clark roared to 72 goals for the season, averaging 6.5 goals per game with Sprason bouncing into goal-kicking form later in the season.
James Sprason averages 4.8 goals a game, however in his last 6 games of the season James kicked 47 goals to go at just under 8 goals per game across those 6 matches.
Both will be important and no doubt their respective midfields will look to each more so throughout the game.
The skilful midfield duo of Kale Ross and Luke Perrin will need to be watched closely with both players in terrific form coming into finals. Perrin and Ross are the navy Roo's most consistent contributors for the year.
For the McDonald's Cup minor premiers Jacob Sheath, Josh Adams, Mitchell Wren and William Grundon have led from the front and can be thanked for the Lions regular season record, where they only lost one game for the year.
Both teams have dynamic forwards, hard running midfielders and prolific defenders, four quarters of footy is the key. Playing on the large, wide open spaces of Reddies Oval will suit both sides as they like to run and carry.
Staying disciplined and doing the basics right will go a long way in deciding the winner in this Qualifying Final. Win and you are into the McDonald's Cup Grand-Final, lose and you face the fresh Dalby Swans.
MATCH DAY - Qualifying Final
Highfields Lions Vs. Coolaroo
12:30pm bounce
Reddies Oval, Jackie Howe Drive - Warwick
Saturday 6th September, 2014.
Last Modified on 08/09/2014 10:06
